9 
* GUAIACUM officinale. 
Common Lignum Vite. 
DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. ZYGOPHYLLACER. 
GUAIACUM Plumier. Calyx 5-phyllus, insequalis; sepalis obtusis. 
Petala 5, unguiculata. Stamina 10, nuda. Ovarium 2-5-loculare, stipitatum, 
ovulis funicolo longo pendulis, rostratis. Stylus 15 stigma simplex. Capsula 
lignea, 2-5-locularis, angulata, polysperma.. Semina. pendula. Albumen rimu- 
losum. 
G. officinale ; foliolis 2-3-jugis obovatis obtusis glabris, ramulis pubescentibus, 
pedicellis floribus parüm longioribus, ovario biloculari. 
G. officinale. Linn. sp. pl. 546. Swartz. obs. 168. Macfadyens Flora Jamaic. 
p.187. Lindley Fl. Med. no. 440. DeCand. prodr. 1. 707. 
There are few species more worth cultivation than this, 
which nevertheless is seldom seen, except in curious collec- 
tions. It isa neat and singular-looking stove plant, with 
bright light green leaves, and it blossoms regularly about 
midsummer, producing its brilliant blue flowers in abun- 
dance. The accompanying figure was made in the garden 
of the Horticultural Society. . 
If we were to judge, merely from the technical characters 
to be found in books, this would not be the species to which 
the name of G. officinale belongs; but it will be found by 
any one who will investigate the matter, that there is no 
little confusion among the few species or supposed species of 
this genus, and that the characters assigned to them in the 
writings of systematical Botanists require modification and a 
better adjustment. Whether or not this species really pro- 
duces Lignum Vite, as is asserted, may admit of some doubt; 
for it grows extremely slowly, and it is scarcely to be 
* Guayac, the American name. 
February, 1839. E 
